Method of pitting peach halves



Oct. 6, 1964 P. C. WlLBUR ETAL METHOD OF FITTING PEACH HALVES Original Filed Jan. 7, 1958 ll Sheets-Sheet 1 F I I3 1 k 427 425 433 PC 6 430 434 70 B 55 9o :6]: IO! Al 22 2'4 23 4 52 E mvnrrons PAUL c. vnLaun LESLIE v DA A s SYLVIO PUCCIHELLI ATTORNEY Oct. 6, 1964 P. c. WILBUR ETAL 3,151,648:

METHOD OF FITTING PEACH HALVES Original Filed Jan. 7. 1 958 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 T'Il3 2 INVENTORS PAUL c. WILBUR LESLIE VADAS SYLVIO PUOCINELLI 'ATTO R N BY Get 6, 1964 P; WILEKUR ETAL 3,151,643

METHOD 0? FITTING PEACH mums Original Filed Jan. 7, 1958 ll Sheets-Sheet 3 IE'IIEi ZEI INVENTORS PAUL G.WILIUR LESLIE VAOAS SYLVIO PUGGiNELL! BY M ATTORNEY Oct. 6, 1964 P c. WlLBUR ETAL METHOD OF FITTING PEACH HALVES 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Jan. 7, 1958 llw 5 R O T N E v m Oct. 6, 1964 P. C. WILBUR ETAL METHOD OF FITTING PEACH HALVES Original Filed Jan. '7, 1958 I I II 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS PAUL QWILBUR .1 HI 3. MW A ATTORNEY ll Sheets-Sheet '7 N I I. m H-MH I s m R man n. ma mm OR E u E mm? onn vwvw oov 1 Nam mmw. HnH n vwm 1 1 a Q um mum 65 mm m omm ATTORNEY Oct. 6, 1964 P. c. WILBUR ETAL METHOD OF FITTING PEACH HALVES Original Filed Jan. '7, 1958 Oct. 6, 1964 P. c. WILBUR ETAL 3,151,643

METHOD OF FITTING PEACH HALVES Original Filed Jan. 7, 1958 11 Sheets-Sheet 10 l s50 i Q 552 INVENTORS c. mLaua ATTORNEY Oct. 6, 1964 P. c. WILBUR ETAL 3,151,648

METHOD OF FITTING PEACH HALVES Original Filed Jan. "7,- 1958 ll Sheets-Sheet 11 'FIl3 22 SGI 'FII3 2:EI FIE'| 24 SYLVIO PUCCINELLI ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,151,648 IF FITTING PEACH HALVES lanl C. Wilbur, San lose, and Leslie Vedas, Les Gates, Calif., and Sylvia Fuccinelli, Farina, Italy, assignors to FM' Qorporation, San Jose, Enliii, a corporation of Delaware Cuiginal application .Ian. 7, 1958, Ser. No. 797,513, new Fatent No. $345,739, dated July 24, 1952. Divided and this application Nov. 2 2-, 1961, Ser. No. 154,654

7 Qlairns. (Cl. 146-238) This invention pertains to fruit preparation machines and more particularly to a method of pitting peaches and an apparatus for carrying out the method.

This application is a division of our pending application, Serial No. 707,513, filed January 7, 1958, now Patent No. 3,045,730, issued July 24, 1962.

At present, in preparing peaches for canning, the pits are generally removed from the peaches by cutting each peach in half and then making a cut entirely around the pit half in each peach half. In this method of pitting peaches, a substantial portion of the flesh of the peach is wasted since the flesh adjacent the pit is severed from the rest of the peach and discarded with the pit.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved method whereby peaches may be pitted with a minimum loss of the flesh of the peach.

Other and further objects will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective of the fruit preparation maclnne of the present invention.

FlGURE 2 is m enlarged fragmentary vertical section talcen along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along line 44 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary section taken along line 55 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary section taken along line 6-6 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective of the pitting head used in the fruit processing machine of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective of a cylinder used in the head of FIGURE 7.

IGURE 9 is an enlarged vertical section taken along line 99 of FIGURE 7, one pitting unit and its actuating linl: being shown in elevation.

FIGURE 10 is a section similar to FIGURE 9 but showing two pitting units and their actuating links in elevation.

FIGURE 11 is an exploded perspective of a pitting unit shown removed from the pitting head.

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary section taken along line 12l2 of FIGURE 11 through the housing of the pitting unit with a portion of the operating mechanism positioned in the housing.

FIGURE 13 is a side elevation, with parts broken away, of an assembled pitting unit.

FIGURE 14 is a diagrammatic showing of the camcontrolled hydraulic system associated with the pitting head of the resent invention.

FIGURE 15 is a chart disclosing a sequence of operations in one pitting operation of the pitting head of the present invention.

FIGURES 16 through 20 are diagrammatic operational views showing successive positions of the mechanisms in the pitting head during one pitting operation.

FIGURE 21 is an enlarged side elevation, with parts broken away, of a second embodiment of the pitting head of the present invention.

FIGURE 22 is a fragmentary front elevation of the pitting head of FIGURE 21.

FIGURE 23 is a section taken along lines 2323 of FIGURE 21.

FIGURE 24 is a section taken along lines 2424 of FIGURE 21.

FIGURE 25 is a perspective of a slide member used in the head of FIGURE 21.

The peach pitting machine by which the method of the present invention may be carried out comprises a peach feeding mechanism A (FIG. 1) which is adapted to receive peaches one at a time and deliver them rearwardly to a rotary peach transfer mechanism B. The transfer mechanism B (FIG. 2) removes the peaches from the feed mechanism, carries them across a saw C, and then upwardly and forwardly to a pitting head D where the pit half is removed from each peach half as the pitting unit carries the peach halves toward a discharge chute E.

The peach feeding mechanism A includes a pair of endless ciain conveyors 35 and 36 (FIG. 1), each of which carries a plurality of spaced blades 37 on which the peaches are impaled. The conveyors 35 and 36 diverge at their forward ends to provide spaced feed stations 39 and as near which operators stand as they impale peaches on the blade 37. As the conveyors move rearwardly they are guided into closely adjacent parallel positions so that the sharpened outer edge portions 41 of the blades 37, which are offset as seen in the lower portion of FIG. 3, are disposed in the same vertical plane. Each blade 37 has a recess 42 (FIG. 2) adjacent the sharpened upper edge 41, and a locating head or projection 43 adjacent the recess. The operator grasps the peach with both hands, adjusts the peach until its suture plane is vertical, and then holds the peach in a position such that the locating projection 43 of the blade enters the indentation at the stem end of the peach. W en the projection 43 has entered the stem end of the peach the operator imparts a downward pivoting movement to the peach, causing the peach to be firmly impaled on the blade 37 with the longitudinal axis of the pit disposed in a substantially horizontal plane, as indicated in phantom lines in FIG. 2. As the peach is carried toward the transfer mechanism B it passes between a pair of pivotally mounted centering rollers 59 (FIG. 1) which are interconnected by meshing gear segments 51. A rotatable skin severing disc 52 (FIG. 2) is mounted in the vertical plane of the blades 37 immediately behind the centering rollers 58. The disc 52 cuts the flesh of the peach in the plane of the suture so that the peach can be moved onto an adjacent elongated stationary impaling blade 55 Without any rotation of the peach taking place. As each peach is conveyed along the stationary blade 55, it is engaged by opposed cups 6% (FIGS. 2 and 3) of the transfer mechardsm B.

The transfer mechanism B comprises a plurality of pairs of opposed cups so, each cup being mounted on a rigid arm 61 (FIG. 3) that is pivotally connected by a bolt 52. to a cup-support arm 63. Each arm 63 is pivoted on a flange 65 that projects generally radially outwardly from a composite tubular support member 67 that is keyed to a shaft 7%) iournalled for rotation in bearings 71 disposed in side wall members 73 and 74 of the machine. A spring '72 is connected between the radial flange 65 and the cup-support arm 63 to normally urge the cup inwardly toward me path of movement of the impaling blades 37. A roller 75 is mounted for rotation on two short arms 76 carried by a bracket 77 that is secured, as by welding to the rigid arm 61. A cup-actuating bellcrank lever 78, which is also pivoted on the flange 65, carries a rotatable cam follower 79 at one end and-is in the side walls.

' gated blade 55.

pivotally connected at its other endto the rigid cup arm charge the peach at a point above the discharge 'chuteE.

In FIG. 3 it will be seen that the shaft 79 is drivenby a gear 88 which is adjustably secured thereon by bolts 39 that extend through slots (not shown) in the gear 88 and I 'through a hub9t) ikeyed to the'shaft. The gear 83 is in mesh with'a gear 91 that is secured .to a shaft 94 which drives the endless chain conveyors and 35through 'fsproc'kets '96 and 7, respectively. With this arrangement, the movement of the cups can be coordinated with the movement of the impadng blades 37 so that the cups of each pair of cups will move inwardly toward each other at a predetermined time to grasp a peach being advanced on a particular impaling blade 3'7.

The peach is gripped between the opposed cups 643' and is moved toward the rear of the machine where it is removed from the impaling blade 37 and is carried over a curved flesh-separating blade 9V9 (FIG. 2) and over an upwardly curved flesh-separating portion 1% of the elon- 7 As the cups continue to move, they cause the peach to .pass over the rotatable saw blade C which is mounted in the vertical plane of the blades 37 vandpSS and is keyed to a shaft 1%} that is journalled'in a bearing 102 supported from the rear wall 1% of the machine.

The saw shaft 1911's driven from a main motor 165 (PEG. 2) through .a belt and pulley arrangement 196 (FIG. 1) that is connected between the motor shaft 107 andthe saw shaft 101. v

Immediatelyfollowing the severing of the flesh and the pit of the peach into halves, each half of the peach passes onto the outer surface of one of two guide plates 13% (FIGS. .2 and 6), which lie closely adjacent the sides of the saw blades C and diverge away from the blade to separate the peach halves as the halves are moved upwardly along the plates. Each peach half is thus supported between a cup 6iland the surfaces of one of the guide plates 11d and is moved over this surface toward a position alongside the pitting head D. V

As'seen in FIG. 4, when each peach half P reaches the upper end of the guide plate 116 along which it is being moved, it is pushed off the guide plate 11%) and onto a support member in the form of a face plate which has an arcuate opening or slot i26 therein. As it moves each'mountingbracket 135.

4- cause one of the two sets of pit gripping elements 139 and 131 to enter the arcuate opening P6 and engage the flesh of the peach half above and below the pit-half; As

the gripper elements engage the peach, they are moved 7 toward each other to a closed position to cut through the flesh of the peach and grip the pit half. Thereafter, the gripping elements are rotated as a unit, substantially about the long axis of the pit half, to swing or flip the pit half from the cavity of the peach half.

Each peach face plate 125 is bolted to a ledge 134 of a mounting bracket 135 (PEG. 4) that has a hub 13! slidahly supported on a shaft 14% which is journalled for rotation in the side walls of the machine. To prevent rotation of the bracket 135, a roller-.141 (FIG. 6) which is rotatably mounted on an upstanding arm 142 of hub 137, is disposed in a short slot 143 in a bracket 144' fixed to the frame of the machine. Each face plate 1.25 is urged inwardly of the machine toward the head D by means of a spring 145 disposed between the hub 137 of the bracket .135 and the inner surface of the adjacent side walls 75 and 74 of the machine. The face plates125 are periodically slid outwardly along the shaft 140 toward the adjacentside walls by two short arms 154? which act as cams and are integrally formed in spaced relation on a hub 152 keyed to shaft'ldll. A plate 153, having a cam follower surface 154, is adjustably secured by cap: screws 5.53:: to an arm 155 formed on the hub 137 of The capscrews 153a extend through slots (not shown) in the plate 153 so that the follower surface can be shifted relative to the arm 155.

' Each follower surface has an inclined portion 156' and plates 125 inwardly toward the 'pitt'mg head D, causing the pit gripping elements 13% and 131 to pass through a sharp drop-oif portion 57. Each time the shaft 146 is rotated, the two earns 15!; ride up the inclined portions i545 and slide the brackets 135 and the face plates 125 outwardly against the resistance of the compression springs 145. When the cams 150 pass overv the drop-oil? portions 157, the springs 145 quickly move the face the slotszlZd and engage the-peach halves.

The pitting head D is mounted for pivoting movement at its lower end in a hub 189 FIG. 3) that is rotatably mounted by means of bearings 183 on the shaft 70 and V has an annular groove 131 formed therein. As seen in FIG. 7, the head D has a central body or support memher 132 having a semi-cylindrical bearing member 184 at its lower end, whichis adapted to fit in the annular groove 181 of the hub 181 A separate semi-cylindrical.

bearing member 186 is also adapted to be disposed in the groove :181 and is arranged to be secured to the bearing member 1134 by capscrews 190; The bearing onto the support plate 125, the peach half P is so oriented 7 that it straddles the opening 125, and the longitudinal centerline of the pit half P is disposed normal to a radius projected from the axis of the shaft 7%). Further, it is to be noted that the slot is wider than the transverse dimension of a peach pit so that the pit half anda portion of the flesh around the pit half may be disposed opposite the slot. The pitting head D is disposed between two face plates, as seen in FIG. 3. Since the head cooperates with both face plates in exactly the same manner, it will be described in association with only one of the face plates. The head is disposed alongside the face plate 125 and has two movable pit gripping and clamping jaws or members 130 and 131 (FIG. 4) opposite the opening 126 but spaced laterally therefrom at the time the peach is positioned over the opening 126. The jaws have sharpened edges member 186 has two apertured ears 192 (one only being shown) between which the lower end of an actuating rodZdd FIG. 2) is pivotally connected by a pin 19S.

adapted to cut into and through the flesh of the peach half :is'pitted while the head D and the peach half are moving forwardly and downwardly in the direction indicated by arrow F in FIG. 4. During this forward movement, each face plate 125 is moved laterally toward the head D to The rod 29%) (FIG. 2) has an upper end with oppositely projecting bifurcated arms 261 and 2&2 which carry rotatable rollers 203 and 2&4, respectively. The roller 204 is disposed in a guide slot 2&7 formed in a bracket 208 that is secured in fixed position on the frame member.

A cam 215, keyed to the shaft 140, engages the When the roller 203 rides along a portion 215]) of the camming'surface, the rod 2% is forced downwardly by a spring 220, that is disposed'over a guide rod 221 projecting upwardly from the rod 28.0, and over a guide rod 222 projecting downwardly from a transverse frame member 223. Referring to FIG. 2, it will be evident that upward and downward movement of the rod 200 will cause'osciilating movement of the head D about the axis of the shaft '70.

The pitting head D comprises the previously mentioned central body portionlSZ (PEG. 9) which has a groove 250 formed in its upper edge. An upstanding guide plate 252 is integrally formed on the body portion and is disposed at right angles thereto to provide two Wings 252:: and 2525. Each Wing has an arcuate slot 255 that is formed on an arc of a circle about a point indicated by reference letter G. The slot 255 is adapted to receive two rollers 256 for guided movement therein. Each pair of rollers 256 is mounted for rotation in a jaw mounting member or block 257 of a pit gripping unit 258, which will be described presently. When the rollers 256 are moved from the lower portion of slot 255, shown in FIG. 9, to the upper portion of the slot, the associated pit gripping unit 253 is pivoted about an axis indicated by the reference letter G.

Two actuator links 273 and 271 (FIG. 7), of inverted U-shape, straddle the upper end of the guide plate 252. Each link has two parallel depending legs 273 and 274, and each leg is pivotally connected at its lower end by a pin 275 (FIG. to the block 257 of one of the pitting units. At upper end, each actuator link is pivotally connected to a crosshead plate 289 by mews of a rod 231 which extends through the link and through an end portion of the crosshead plate 28-0 that is disposed in a vertical groove 232 (FIG. 7) in the The crosshead plate 282 also extends through a slot 245 (FIG. 10) in a piston 286 to which the crosshead plate 283 is secured by a pin 28%. The piston 286 is mounted for sliding movement in a cylinder 287 (PEG. 8) that is formed on the lower end of a guide cage 29-9. The cage 290 has an upper tubular portion 298a which has diametrically opposed vertical guide slots 29% and 299s receiving the crosshead pin 283 and opposed slots 29% and 2961 receiving the crosshead plate 280. A cap 290d is formed on the upper end of the tubular portion 299a. The cylinder 287 has, on its outer surface, two diametrically opposed recesses 291 and 232 (FIG. 10) which receive the inner edges of the wings 252a and 252b, respectively. The guide cage is mounted in upright position in the head, being secured to the wing portions 252a and 2521) by capscrews 293 which project through holes 294 (FIG. 8) in four bosses 295 formed on the cylinder 237 adjacent its lower end. A plug 238 (FIG. 9), which has an annular groove carrying a seal ring 299, is screwed in the tapped lower end of the cylinder 237 to seal a pressure chamber 331 formed thereabove. The piston 286, which has an internal chamber 362, also has an annular groove 393 carrying a seal ring 304. Accordingly, when fluid under pressure is directed from a supply line 395 to the chamber 331, the piston is forced upwardly to carry the two inverted U-shaped links 27%) and 271 upwardly, causing each block 257 to be pivoted upwardly about axis G.

The piston is moved upwardly against the resistance of two springs 3636 (FIG. 7), each of which is anchored at its upper end in the piston pin 288 and its lower end in a fixed block 307. Each block 337 has a lower flange 3G3 locked in the groove of the body portion 182 by bolts 36?. A long bolt 311) extends through the upper end of both fixed blocks 367 and through the guide plate 252 to lock both blocks to the plate. During the upward movement of the piston 286 the springs 3% are tensioned. Accordingly, when the pressure in line 395 is released, the springs 306 move the actuator links 274) and 271 downwardly, causing the pitting unit blocks 257 to be swung downwardly to the position of FIGURE 9. A rubber ring 307 cushions the upward movement of the crosshead plate 23% and a rubber ring 388 cushions its downward movement.

Each pitting unit 253 comprises the above-mentioned block 257 which has two spaced flanges 311 and 312 (FIG. ll) defining a groove 313 adapted to receive the slotted portion of the associated wing 252a or 25212. The two rollers 256 (FIG. 9), which are disposed in each slot 255, are mounted on the block 257 by pins 314, each of which has its opposi e end portions fixed in the two spaced flanges 311 and 312. Accordingly, when the block is pulled upwardly, the rollers 256 cause the block to follow an arcuate path.

The block 257 has a deep recess 315 (FIG. 11) in one wall and has an elongated tubular passage 316 which has a portion intermediate its ends that opens into the wall recess. The passage 316 forms a power cylinder which receives a piston 321 (FIG. 12) having a central passage 322. Along one side face or" the piston 321, a recess 325 is formed to provide two spaced shoulders 326 and 327. The piston 321 is also disposed in a bore 328 of a fitting 33% which has one end abutting an annular flange 331 formed on the piston. A passage 333 in the fitting 339 communicates with the passage 322 of the piston and with a connector 335 which is adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure. A pin 337 (FIG. ll) is arranged to be inserted through aligned holes 338 in a collar 339 and through a hole in an end portion 346 of the piston to lock the collar on the piston and to lock the fitting 33%) between the collar and the annular flange 331 of the piston. A setscrew 341 is threaded in the tapped end of the piston to engage and hold the pin 337 inposition.

In the position of the piston shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the flange 331 is abutting the end face of the block 257, and a clearance space 342 is formed between the op posite end of the piston and cylinder wall. It will be apparent that when fluid under pressure is directed through passage 333 into passage 322 of the piston, the fluid will enter the clearance space 342 and exert pressure on the end of the piston, causing it to move to the left, as viewed in FTGURE 12. This movement is made against the resistance of a spring 345 (FIG. 13) which is connected between the pin 337 on the collar 33? and a pin 346 on a cover plate 347 (FIG. 11) that is adapted to be secured to the block 257 by capscrews 35%). Accordingly, when the fluid pressure acting on the piston is released, the spring 345 returns the piston toward the right to the position shown in FTGURE 12.

The pit gripping jaws or clamping elements 13% and 131 are moved relative to each other between opened and closed position, during reciprocating movement of the piston 321, by means of an actuator member 360 (FIG. 12) which is disposed in the wall recess 315 of the block 257 and has three arms 369a, 3665, and 3500, the arm 360a being disposed between the shoulders 326 and 327 of the piston. The arms 33Gb and 3630 have elongated cylindrical openings 361 and 362, respectively. The central portion of the member 36% is provided with a cylindrical opening 363 (FIG. 11) which is of the same diameter as a cylindrical recess 365 in a wall 367 of the block 257. The actuator member 360 is pivotally mounted on the block 257 by means of a pivot pin 373 which has a portion 373:: adapted to be snugly positioned in the recess 365 of the block and in the opening sea in the actuator 363. The pivot pin 373 is secured to the rear face of a guide plate 377 by a capscrew 378, which is disposed in an opening 377s in the plate 377 and is threaded into a reduced diameter portion 37317 of the pivot pin 373 to lock the pivot pin on the guide plate 377 with two shoulders 382 of the plate 377 abutting shoulders 333 formed on the block 257. With this arrangement, the actuator 356 can pivot freely about the am's of pivot pin 372 as the shoulders 325 and 327 of the piston 321 alternately contact the upstanding arm 363a. A top plate 387, which is secured on the upper surface of the guide plate 377, has a marginal portion 337a overlying the uncovered portion of the wall recess 315.

The guide plate 377 has two vertical guide grooves 377a and 377i). Walls 389 and 381, derming the bases of the grooves, have elongated slots 380a and 331a, respectively. The groove 377a is arranged to received a leg 385 of a slide 335 which has an upper portion 385a to which the upper jaw 13% is secured by screws 3%. A guide pin 392, which is arranged to project through the elongated slot 389a and into the opening 361 in the actuator 36%, is secured to the slide 386 by a capscrew 393 that is threaded into a tapped end portion 392:: of the guide pin 392.

the actuator 36th. A flat bar 4433, which is secured in agroove 494 of slide 386 by a capscrew 405, has a'lower end portion. 493a adapted to project into an opening 496 in the jaw 131 to maintain 13d and 131. 7 Referring to. FIGURE 12, it will be seen that, when the alignment of the jaws the actuator 36tl-is pivoted clockwise about pin 373 by the piston 321, the guide pin 373 raises'the slide 386- while the guide pin 41% lowers the slide 395. This operation moves the jaws 139 and 131 to open position. When the actuator Edi? is pivoted counterclockwise, the slides 336 and 395 are moved in opposite directions to brim the jaws to closed position.

In FIGURES 7 and 9 it will be noted that the jaws 139 and 131 have slanted outer wall portions 130a and 131a. When the jaws are disposed in gripping engagement with a pit half,'these wall portions are disposed substantially the same distance from the center of rotation G of the jaws as is the outer surface of the pit half. Accordingly, during flipping of the pit half the wall portions 133a and 1310. move along the same arc as the outer surface of the pit and do not cut into or gouge out any of the flesh surrounding the pit cavity.

A bracket 41% (FIG. 7), having two members 419a and 41052, is secured by a plurality of stud bolts 411 (only one being shown) to each side of the support block 3'57 of the head. Each bracket 41% has a vertical mounted in fixed position above the machine proper. by a plurality of rigid bars 427. A timing belt and pulley drive mechanism 43% connects the camshaft 425 in driven relation to one end of the previously mentioned camshaft 149 which carries the cam 215 (FIG. 2

that controls the oscillating movement of the pitting head D. At its opposite end, the camshaft 140 carries a sprocket 433 (FIG. 3) which is connected by a chain 434 to a sprocket 435 on an idler shaft 436. A sprocket 437, that is keyed to the idler shaft 436, is driven from a peachhalf against the face place 125. As will be explained presently, each plate 452 applies pressure to the associated cup after the clamp jaws have begun their closing movement and have engaged or found the pit; Thus the plate 452 applies an auxiliary pressure which causes the jaws to be embeddeddeeper in the peach half.

The camshaft 425 (FIG. 14) has five cams C8, C7, C3, C2 and C4 keyed thereon. The cams C8, C7,'C3 and C4 are associated with valves V8, V7, V3 and V4, respectively, while cam C2'is associated with a master power cylinder PC-Z. The cams, valves power cylinder, the springs which resist the cam-actuated move ments of the valves and piston rods, and the valve actuating mechanisms are shown schematically in FIGURE 14. However, it will be understood that any necessary conventional valves and valve operating mechanisms may be used and that the camming surfaces of the cams are designed to carry out the coordinated operations to be described presently. Each of the cams may be made adjustable relative to the shaft on which it is carried in the manner explained in connection with cam C6. The cams C8 and C7 control the flow of pressurized fluid to line 312*5 which communicates with the cylinder 301 which controls the simultaneous pivoting or flipping movement of the units 258. Cam C3 has a camming surface arranged to engage a follower roller 4n mounted on a push rod' 461 which is operatively connected to a valve element 452 ofthe valve V3. When the valve element 462 is in the illustrated position shown in' FIG. 14, fluid may flow from a conduit 463 through the valve housing and into a conduit 464 leading to a reservoir the motor shaft 107 by a chain 439. With this arrangement, the two camshafts 425 and 140 are driven at the same rotary speed and in timed relation with the other mechanisms that are driven by the motor 105.

The camshaft 140 has a cam C6 (FIG. 14) adjustably secured by setscrews 441 to a disc 442 keyed to the shaft. A lever 443, which is pivotally'mounted by a pin 443a "on the machine sideplate 74, carries a roller follower 445 which rides along the camming surface of cam C6.

7 'When the follower 445 drops into a recessed portion C612 ofthe cam C6, a spring 446,-which is mounted on a flange of a plate 447 secured to the side plate 74, quickly shifts a pushrod 443 in a direction to apply pressure through a main power cylinder PC6 to line 450 leading to two power cylinders PC6-1 and PC6-2 (FIG. 3); The pressure exerted in line 1450 is dependent on the setting of the spring 446 and this setting may be varied by a nut 449. Each power cylinder has a push rod 451 connected to a plate 452 pivotally mounted on the inner surface of the adjacent side plate 73 or 74. When pressurized fluid is directed to the cylinders PO64 and PC6- 2, the plates 452 are urged inwardly to contact and apply 465. A conduit 466 connects the reservoir 465 to the suction side of a pressure unit 467 having a pump which is arranged to pump fluid through a conduit 468 to the housing of the valve V7. An accumulator 469 communicates with conduit 463. A valve element 472 of valve V7 is operatively connected to a push. rod 474 which carries a roller follower 475 that rides on the cam:

forced through the housing of valve V7 into the conduit 365. At 162 the follower 475 'ridcs up a surface C7b to, close the valve again. Similarly, at 77 of camshaft rotation, a camming surface CSa causes closing of valve V8 and at 167 a camming surface C81) causes opening of the valve VS. Thus, the cams C8 and C7 are '80 arranged that, while valve V8 is closed, cam C7 opens valve V7 permitting pressurized fluid to be forced through conduit 305 into. the cylinder 301 causing the pitting units 258 to be pivoted upwardly. When the units reach their uppermost position, the valve V7 is closed and valve V8 is opened, permitting the downward, spring-urged movement of the pitting units to pump the fluid in a reverse direction through conduit 3135, conduit 463,'and valve Vs'toreservoir 465. p

The camming surface of cam C2 engages. a roller follower 485which is connected to a piston 486 of the master cylinder PC-Z. 'As the cam C2'is rotated counterclockwise (FIG. 14) from the illustrated position, the

piston is started downwardly at approximately 37 of camshaft rotation, causing pressure to be applied to line 335 which directs fluid to the passage 316 to move jaws, and then the piston again dwells in its lower position from 162 to 237, holding the jaws in locked position. Then from 237 to297', the piston is moved upwardly, and from 297 to 360' the piston is held in its upper position Cam C4 on camshaft 425 actuates a push rod 495 which has a valve element 496 of valve V4 connected to its lower end. When the valve element 496 is in the open position, fluid from a reservoir is permitted to flow into the line 335 which supplies fluid to the clamping jaws. The valve V4 is closed at approximately 27 of camshaft rotation and held closed during the clamping operation. When the clamping operation is completed, the valve V4 is opened at approximately 237 to permit the reservoir 560 to refill the line if any fluid has been lost during the operation.

Cam C3 actuates a push rod 49:) which carries a valve element 491 of valve V3. A low pressure accumulator 4&2 communicates with the valve housing and, when the valve V3 is open, the low pressure accumulator 592 controls the pressure in line 335 which directs fluid to the clamping jaws. With this arrangement, the valve V 3 is held open from 0 to 92 of camshaft rotation and, during this interval, the cam C2 causes pressure to be applied to the jaws at the low pressure dictated by the low pressure ccumuiator 4&2. At 92, the valve V3 is closed and held closed until approximately 237.

A hi h pressure accumulator 494 communicates with line 335. Accordingly, after the low pressure clamping period is completed and valve V3 is closed, th second clamping movement eflected by cam C2 is carried out a. a high pressure dictated by accumulator A complete pitting cycle will be described with reference to FlGURE-S 14 through 20. It will be understood that the zero degree position indicated in the camshaft 425 of FIGURE 14 corresponds to the zero degree position indicated on operational chart FIGURE 15. Further, this Zero position corresponds also to the operational position of FIGURE 16 where two peach halves l have been separated and have just been transferred by cups from the guide plates 11% (FIG. 2) to the slotted face plates 12S and the cam 215 is ready to start the forward movement of the head D.

At 27 (FIG. 15) the refill valve V i closes. At this point the head D has caught up with and is moving in unison with the peach halves. Also, at 27 the the cams 159 (FIG. 6) release the face plates 12:? and permit springs 145 to move the plates inwardly, carrying the peach halves into contact with the open jaws of the clamplog units and permitting the peach to be sunk into jaws under the pressure exerted by the springs 72 connected to each cup support arm. At 3 the clamping jaws are moved under low pressure toward closed position against the pit. Thus, from 37 to 92, the face plates are moved inwardly and the peach halves are urged onto the clamping jaws by the springs 72 while the jaws are being moved toward their closed position under the low pressure dictated by accumulator 492.

At 92 the cam C6 (FIG. 14) releases the push rod 447 which then quickly applies pressure to power cylinders POE-1 and PC6-2. This auxiliary sinl; pressure is applied through the pivoting plates 452 to urge the cups inwardly to sink the jaws further in the peach halves and assure that each pit half is substantially enclosed by the clamping jaws. At 102", valve V3 is closed and the high pressure accumulator 494 takes over so that the ensuing clamping movement of the jaws from 102 to 162 is done at high pressure. FIGURE 17 illustrates the position of the peach halves and the pit halves during the sinking and clamping operation.

T 1 cainming surface of the cam C2 is so designed that, if no pit half is between the jaws, the jaws come into abutting relation with each other just before the piston in the master power cylinder PC2 completes its pressure stroke. Accordingly, when a pit half is between the jaws and the jaws grip the pit half before they are fully closed and the piston in the master cylinder still has a short distance to travel. The jaws are locked on the pit by continued application of pressure. At 162 the down- IMO ward movement of the piston is stopped, and from 102 to 237 the cam C2 holds the piston in lines position, further locking the jaws. In summary, the jaws are first closed under low pressure, then the auxfiiary sink pressure is applied, and finally the jaws are clamped against the pit half under high pressure.

While the high pressure clarnping operation is going on, the cam C7 opens valve V7, permitting high pressure fluid to be directed to the flipping mechanism of head D to swing each pitting unit upwardly, whereby the jaws are swung downwardly, as seen in FIGURE 18, tearin away from the peach half the portion of the pit that was not cut away from the peach half by the closing of the jaws. It will be noted that the axis G about which the jaws rotate is substantially in the suture plane of the peach, being isplaced from that plane about /8 of an inc.-. When the jaws reach the lower position of FIG- URE 18, valve V7 is closed and valve V5 is opened permitting the springs 3% to swing the pitting units downwardly to their initial position. Downward movement or" the pitting units causes the piston 235 to pump fluid rearwardly through lines and 4523 and valve Vt; into reservoir 4&5. pitting units are thus returned to the position shown in r iGURE 19.

During the return movement of each pitting unit, the cams 35%: (FlG. 6) force the face plates outwardly, moving each peach half away from its pit half. When the face plates are moving toward their outermost positions, and approximately at 237 of camshaft rotation, the cam C2 llows the piston of the power cylinder PC2 to move upwardly, releasing the pressure in line 335 to the clamping jaws. The springs 345' of the pitting units then immediately move the jaws to open position, causing the pit half to be rejected, as seen in FIGURE 20.

As may be seen in FEGURE 15, at the end of each pitting cycle, the face plates 125 are in their outer position, the refill valve V iis open permiting line 335 to be replenished if necessary, the clamping jaws are in th ir open position, and the head D has een returned to its rearnrost position in the machine.

hile a particular sequence of operations of the control circuit has been described, it will be evident that this sequence may be changed somewhat by changing the settings of the various adjustable cams.

lust before the head D is moved rearwardly to its initial position, the cups 6% are moved outwardly by the cyl'mdrical cams 35 (FIG. 3) and the peach halves drop out of the cups into the discharge chute E (FIG. 1). If a peach half should adhere to the face plate 325, it is removed during the next forward movement of the head by one of a plurality of raking mechanisms 525 (FIG. 5), one or" which is disposed between each pair of adjacent feed cups 6%. In the arrangement shown in FZGURE 3, there are six cups 50 on each side of the head D. Accordingly, there will be twelve raking mechanisms 525 used in the machine. Each raking mechanism comp-rises a curved bar 527 (H6. 5) that is bolted to the tubular support member 67 carrying the cup mounting flanges 65. At its outer end, the bar 527 carries a plurality of pins 538 which are disposed adjacent the face plate 125 substantially at the same distance from the axis of tubular support member 67 as the cups fill. Accordingly, if a peach half in a particular cup adheres to the face plate 125, the forwardly moving pins 53% behind that cup will engage the peach half and remove it from the face place, causing it to drop into the discharge chute. Similarly, if a pit half should cling to one of the clamping jaws 1313 or 131, the pins will engage the pit half as the jaws move rearwardly with the head D past the pins.

In FlGURES 21 and 22 a second embodiment D of the pitting head is illustrated. In the previously described head D the pit gripping jaws are arranged to move into gripping engagement with a pit half and then rotate as a unit downwardly, substantially about an axis disposed in the suture plane of the peach, to flip the pit downwardly.

In the second head D the jaws grip the pit half and'then rotate the pit halt about an axis substantially normal to The pitting head D comprises a lower body portion 556 (FIG. 21) having two bearing members 559a and 55% adapted to be clamped together and rotatably mounted on hub lfiil that is journalled on shaft 7% The actuator rod 2% is pivotally connected to the member 55% by a pin 552 so that upward movement of the rod 2&9 causes forward pivoting movement of the head D.

Above the bearing portion Edda, the body portion 559 branches out to providetwo generally vertical support plates 553 and 55% (PEG. 22) which have a tubular bearing member 556 integrally formed at one end thereof. Two arms or support brackets 559 and 561 (FIG. 21) are integrally formed on the rear surfaceof plates 553 and 554, respectively. At its upper end, each of the brackets 56! and 561 has a bushing 565 (FIG. 22) which rotatably journals a pin 565 projecting from a cap 569 of a power cylinder 570.

The tubular bearing S56 is arranged to rotatably journal a central cylindrical body portion 575 (PEG. 23) of a spool-like clamp carrier 576 which includes two cylindrical end members 577 and 573, one member being integrally formed at each end of the central portion 575. Two opposed pistons 585 and 585 (FIG. 23) are slidably disposed in a bore 537 inend member 577, and two opposed pistons and591 are slidably disposed in a bore 592 in end member 578. Piston 5556 bears against a lateral flange 596 of a slide 595 (MG. 25) which has a rear wall 597 disposed in sliding, tongue-in-groove engagement with a fixed member 598 (FIG. '24) or" the end member 578. The slide 595 has a front flat face see (FIG. 25) having a boss dill to which a lower clamping jaw 6ll2 is secured by screws 6%. When the piston 599 is moved away from piston 591, the jaw 69?. is movedradially inwardly oi the cylindrical end member 573 against the resistance of a compression spring 695 (PEG. 23) disposed between the flange S96 and a socket 686 secured in the end member 578.

The piston 591 bears against a slidable plate 510 which is similar to slide plate 595 in that it comprises a lateral flange 611 '(FlG. 23) against which the piston presses, a rear wall 612 (EEG. 24) in tongue-in-groove sliding ongagement with a fixed member 613 of the end member 578, and a front wall 615 (FIG. 21) to which an upper clamping jaw 616 is secured by screws 617. A compression'spring 620 (FIG. 23) resists the radially inward movement of jaw 616 under the urging of piston 591.

An upper jaw 63%! (FIG. 23) and a lower jaw. 551 are mounted in end member 577 in exactly the same manner as jaws 5G2 and 616 are mounted in end member 578, and the. pistons 535 and d are arranged to actuate the slides, on which the jaws are mounted, against the resistance of two compression springs 633 and 634.

Pressurized fluid is directed to the spaces formed between the rounded ends of the aligned pistons 59% and 591 and between the aligned pistons 585 and 5536 by means of a passage 650 (FIG. 24) formed in the central portion 575 of the clamp carrier 576. The passage 659 communicates with a passage 651 in a crank arm 652 which i is integrally formed on the central portion 575 and projects through an opening 653 in thetubular member 556. A hub. 55%, formed on the end of a tube 561;, has a lateral cylindrical bearing portion 652 rotatably journalled in an opening sea in the crank arm 652. A collar 67% is secured by a setscrew 671 to a reduced diameter extension 672 of the bearing portion 652 to retain the bearing portion in the crank arm. The central passage of the tube 661 communicates with an axial passage 673 in the bearing portion 662 and passage 673 in turn is connected to the passage 651 in the crank arm 652 by a radial passage 675' which has an opening at the periphery of. thebearing member that is sufficiently Wide so that the radial passage through the'power cylinder 57% and is connected exteriorly- 1 of the cylinder to a tube 677 (FIG. 22) leadingto a source of pressurized fluid. It will be evident t at, when fluid is directed into the openings between each pair. of aligned pistons, the pistons are moved outwardly away from each.

other, actuating the slides'and moving the clamping jaws toward each other to grip the pit halves. When the pres sure in the line is released, the springs move the pistons toward each other to'open thejaws.

The crank arm s52 is oscillated between positors X and! (PEG. 21) by means of a piston 680 that is keyed to the tube 661 inside the power cylinder 570. Pressurized fluid is directed into the cylinder 570 througha conduit 631 which communicates with the inside of the cylinder on one side of the piston. 'When fluid is directed into the cylinder, the piston is moved upwardly (FIG; 21') to swing the crank arm through approximately against the resistance of a spring 682. This swinging of the crank arm 652 causes a partial rotation of the clamp carrier so that a pit half, gripped between the jaws of the carrier, will be rotated about an axis substantially normal to the suture plane and pulled loose from the 'flesh of the peach. While the pit is in this rotated position, the pressure in the line 677 leading to the pistons 5% 591, 585 and 586 is released, permitting the springs to move the jaws to open, pit-discharging position. After the pit half has been discharged, the carrier is swung back to th position of FIGURE 21.

It will be understood that the head D is adapted to be substituted in the machine for the head D and the camcontrolled hydraulic mechanisms described in connection with head D may be used to control and coordinate the movements of the head I) in the machine.

From the foregoing description it will be recognized that the present invention provides a novel method of V pitting fruit halves by bodily gripping and positively carrying the pit half out of the pit cavity while holding the peach half against movement with the pit half. The flipping of the pit half about an axis substantially in the suture plane assures the removal of the pit half with a minimum of tearing of the flesh around the cavity. Similarly, the twisting of the pit half about an axis normal to the suture plane provides a positive method of removing each pit half from the flesh of the peach half.

a The present cam-controlled hydraulic system which synchronizes the movements of the various members of the pitter makes possible a rapid, efflcient pitting operation.

It will be understood that certain modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiments of the invention without departing from the concepts of this invention. 7

Accordingly, the scope of the invention must be determined only by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a method of pitting a peach the steps of cutting thepeach into halves along the suture plane, gripping each pit half, and bodily removing each pit half from the associated peach half while holding the remainder of said peach half against movement with saidpit half, said removing step being accomplished by rotating each pit half about its major axis.

2. In a method of pitting a peach the steps of cutting the peach into halves along the suture plane, gripping the pit half of one of the peach halves, and pivoting the pit half about an axis disposed substantially in the suture plane and extending longitudinally of the pit half while holding the remainder of the peach half against movement with said pit half.

3. In a method of pitting a peach the steps of cutting V the peach into halves along the suture plane, gripping the pit half of one of the peach halves, and twisting the pit 13 half in a plane normal to the suture plane and about an axis disposed substantially in the suture plane while holding the remainder of the peach half against rotation in such a plane.

4. In a method of pitting a peach the steps of cutting the peach into halves along the suture plane, penetrating into each peach half from opposite sides of the associated pit half to grip the pit half at opposite sides of the long axis thereof, turning each pit half about such long axis while holding the flesh of the peach half relatively fixed during removal of the associated pit half.

5. In a method of pitting peaches the steps of cutting the peach into halves along the suture plane, cutting into each peach half at opposite sides of the long axis of the associated pit half to partially separate the pit half from the flesh of the peach half and to grip the pit half, and bodily twisting said pit half about such long axis While holding the peach half against twisting movement to break the remaining bond between the pit half and the flesh.

6. A method of pitting peach halves during continuous bodily movement thereof in a predetermined path comprising the steps of partially bisecting the flesh of a Whole peach in its plane of suture, cutting the peach in halves along such plane, and simultaneously gripping the respective pit halves on opposite sides of the major axis thereof and shearing such pit halves from the respective peach halves by rotating the pit halves substantially about such major axis, said gripping and shearing being efifectecl without interrupting bodily movement of such peach halves.

7. A method of pitting peaches comprising the steps or" partially bisecting the flesh of a whole peach on opposite sides of the major axis thereof, bisecting the whole peach into halves, simultaneously bodily moving such halves to a half-pitting station, simultaneously gripping the respective half pits on opposite sides or" such major axis while each of such peach halves are being bodily moved, and simultaneously twisting the respective half pits about an axis parallel to and closely adjacent such major axis.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED ST TES PATENTS 2,141,204 Chekian Dec. 27, 1938 2,818,098 Perrelli Dec. 31, 1957 2,975,812 Perrelli Mar. 21, 1961 3,910,501 Anderson Nov. 28, 1961 

3. IN A METHOD OF PITTING A PEACH THE STEPS OF CUTTING THE PEACH INTO HALVES ALONG THE SUTURE PLANE, GRIPPING THE PIT HALF OF ONE OF THE PEACH HALVES, AND TWISTING THE PIT HALF IN A PLANE NORMAL TO THE SUTURE PLANE AND ABOUT AN AXIS DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE SUTURE PLANE WHILE HOLDING THE REMAINDER OF THE PEACH HALF AGAINST ROTATION IN SUCH A PLANE. 